Bottle packaging machine



Nov. 20, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR.. ET AL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9,' 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORISrancdl'zd ,rfzt Grove?" Carme, z] By WM W? Nov. 20, 1962 F. A.cH1DsEY,JR.. ETAL 3,054,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1960 INVENTORS'A Nov. 20, 1962 y F. A. cl-nDsEY, JR.. ET AL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 N INVENToRSancfcgzdfg N Grover C. arze, zi-

FIG' 7 Nov. 20, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR.. ETAL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE:

Filed Aug. 9, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jill/l/l www?? Nov. 20, 1962 F. A.cHlDsEY, JR.. ETAL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToRs.Franc' c/Q. Czzaijeg, J2. Q Grover G. Carrze, J2".

Nov. 20, 1962 F. A. cHlDsEY, JR.. ET AL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Q (D S0 S sQ lila. 16

INVENTORS randz'db. C'Znaseg, Jr.' Grover C'. Carrie, JZ".

Nov. 20, 1962 F. A. cl-uDsEY, JR.. ErAL 3,064,404

BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9*, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 F. A.CHIDSEY, JR.. El' AL BOTTLE PACKAGING MACHINE PIG .20

Nov. 20, 1962 Filed Aug. s, 1960 s ,n m55, W wm W. w Ca @a Q ww c. m .wm C@ W w mw @nited diaree tice 3,964,4@4 BOTTLE PACKAGDJG MACHiNEFrancis Chidsey, Jr., Wayne, Pa., and Grover C. Cnrrie, Jr., Chariotte,N13., assignors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, lll., acorporation of Delaware Filed Ang. 9, 196%, Ser. No. 58,496

16 Ciaims. (Cl. SES-48) The present invention relates to packagingmachines and more particularly to machines for enclosing bottles andsimilar articles within open end cartons or wrappers.

An important object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple,compact machine, particularly adapted for wrapping bottles within acarbon blank having a panel formed with openings through which the necksof bottles may project, and having additional panels which snuglyenclose the sides and bottom ends of a group of bottles.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a machine forenclosing two rows of bottles or similar cylindrical articles within anopen end carton or wrapper having bottom panel portions arranged to beconnected, and having central retaining members at the carton open endswhich serve to prevent outward displacement of the bottles at the endsof the rows.

A further object is to provide a machine of the type described Iwhich isadapted to apply a wrapper type carton blank around a ygroup of bottleswith a high degree of snugness so that the enclosed bottles will betightly held within the wrapper.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine having simpleand effective means for causing snug engagement of the wrapper againstthe sloping necks of bottles held within such wrapper.

A still further object is to provide a bottle wrapping machine designedto enclose a group of two rows of bottles in an elongated wrapper whichmay be divided readily into two separate and complete packages, anexample being the initial packaging of a group of twelve bottles,arranged in two rows of six bottles each, within a single wrapper, suchpackage being divisible midway of its length to form two packages eachcontaining two rows of three bottles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for applyingadhesive to one of two overlapping bottom panels in a wrapper typecarton, of the type above referred to, such bottom panels includingupwardly -foldable, bottle-retaining members at the carton open ends, atleast one of which receives a coating of adhesive, and combining withsuch machine a conveyor section having means for holding the retainingmembers in upstanding position while the adhesive sets.

Additional and more specific objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention-FIG, l is a small scale plan View illustrating the entire machine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, with a part broken away, of a preferred form ofbottle Wrapper blank for use on the machine;

FG. 3 is a plan view of a package containing two rows of three bottles,being one-half of the unit which the machine of the present invention isdesigned to producj delivery mechanism and the forming member forfolding the sides of the blank against the bottle group and foradvancing the partly formed packages past the wrapper treating stations;

PIG. 7 is a partial, side elevational view, being a continuation of FiG.6, with certain parts broken away or omitted and illustrating the iinalwrapper blank treating stations, and showing in section the conveyor forreceiving the completed package;

FiG. 8 is a fragmentary, `detail perspective view, somewhat schematic inform, showing the blank as it begins its advance to the station Where itis delivered in position over a bottle group, and showing the adhesiveapplying mechanism to apply a strip of adhesive along the blank edge;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detail, perspective View showing the mechanismfor supporting a blank at the rst assembly station ready to be moveddown with the apertures of the blank surrounding the necks of thebottles;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary detail view taken at the leading edge of thefirst station and looking toward the right as viewed in FIG. 6, showingthe wrapper blank supported just above the bottles;

FiG. 11 is a fragmentary detail, perspective view showing the conveyoron which the bottle group is advanced A and showing the stop elementsfor holding the bottle group FIG. 4 is an end view of the packageillustrated in y in proper position to receive the wrapper blank;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the end forming box orcompartment;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, detail, sectional view showing the forming boxas it appears when it has forced a wrapper blank down over the bottlenecks and brought the sides of the wrapper along the vertical sides ofthe bottle group;

FIG. 14 is a detail, perspective View of the follower element adapted topress the Iwrapper firmly against th shoulders of the bottles;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary detail, perspective view, showing mechanism atthe second forming station for folding the end portion of one side ofthe wrapper beneath the bottle group;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, detail view, looking toward the receiving endof the machine, showing the manner in which one edge portion of theblank is folded in beneath the bottle group by mechanism illustrated inperspective in FIG. `15.

FG. 17 is a fragmentary detail, perspective view, showing mechanism atthe third forming station for folding the second end portion of thewrapper beneath the bottle STOUP;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, takenalong line 18-18 of FIG. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows,showing the mechanism for applying pressure laterally against the sideportions of the wrapper to cause it to fit snugly around the group ofbottles;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary detail view showing vertically movable formingelements which fold upward one set of retaining parts comprising tabs orflaps formed in the wrapper blanks and designed to prevent displacementof bottles from the open ends of the wrapper;

FIG. 20 is a sectional elevation, with parts omitted, taken along lineZtl-20 of FIG. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows, showingmechanism for applying lateral pressure against the Wrapper and alsoshowing one of the vertically movable forming elements for foldingupward the two cooperating bottle retaining parts, as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken centrallyA of the packageand lengthwise of the machine showing the forming elements for the endretaining members of the wrapper and showing other elements which causeengagement of bottom locking parts formed in the outer edge portions ofthe wrapper;

FIGS. 22 and 23 are enlarged, fragmentary detail views of the bottomlocking parts formed in the wrapper;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary detail view showing an end of the olf-bearingconveyor for receiving freshly glued packages and retaining the upfoldedretaining members in position until the -glue sets; and

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing a portion of thesupporting surface of the off-bearing conveyor.

The machine herein disclosed is similar in numerous respects in itsconstruction and operation to the machine disclosed in the pendingapplication of F. A. Chidsey, jr., and G. C. Currie, Jr., Serial No.838,276, eld September 4, 1959, now U.S. Patent No. 3,037,334.

The form of carton which the machine is particularly designed to actupon is similar to the carton disclosed in the pending application of F.A. Chidsey, Jr., Serial No. 814,888, led May 2l, 1959, now U.S. PatentNo.,3,016, 182. The carton is preferably prepared as a flat, rectangularblank of foldable paperboard comprising a central or top panel havingopenings to receive the necks of bottles, two side panels and two bottompanels or aps designed to be overlapped and adhesively secured to holdthe walls firmly against the sides of an enclosed group of bottlesarranged in two rows. In order to prevent accidental displacement of theend bottles from the open carton ends, the outer corners of the bottomaps are formed with suitable diagonal scores and cuts to providecooperating, upwardly foldable portions. These foldable portions, whensecured together in upright position, will form central, upstandingretaining members engaging adjacent surfaces of the two end bottles ateach open end of the carton. The blanks are initially made to providetwo complete cartons held together along a severable line which isweakened for ease in separation. in the present instance two rows of sixbottles each are first enclosed in a wrapper which, when separated,becomes two complete open-end cartons holding two rows of three bottleseach.

Essentially the machine as herein disclosed includes conveying means foradvancing separated groups of bottles in two parallel rows to an initialassembly station. The carton blanks are conveyed to this station andbrought to rest over a bottle group with the apertured central panel inregistration with the bottles so that the bottle necks will be receivedinto the openings in the central panel and this panel will come to restupon the sloping shoulders of the bottles. Just prior to delivery of theY blank into position over the bottle group a narrow coating of adhesiveis applied along an outer edge of one of the bottom llaps. This adhesivealso coats the individual upwardly foldable retaining portions providedon such treated bottom flap.

A unitary forming and conveying member is supported for vmovement abovethe paths of the blanks and the bottles to be packaged. This member hasthree similar, longitudinally aligned compartments or boxes open at thebottom so that, when the unit is moved down, each one ofthe boxes willsurroundV a partially packaged group of bottles. The frame of theforming and conveying member is guided for four-way movement, that is,forwardly to advance the bottle group being packaged, then upwardly,rearwardly andy downwardly to engage succeeding groups. Y

VThe first box or compartment on what may beV termed the rear ortrailing portion of the forming member is arranged to engage the-flatblank and fold it laround the bottle group at a location which maybereferred to as the rst treating station. As the forming member is guidedon the'dolnward leg of its fourway movement, and just before the loweredge portions of thetrailing box of the forming member come intoengagement with Vthe blank, the supports on which the blank initiallyVcomes formed package slidably along a relatively thin supporting,

plate which is somewhat narrower than the package width. The formingmember is then withdrawn upwardly leaving the partially formed packageat the second treating station. is folded partially inward below thesupporting plateby a reciprocable flap-folding element.

The partially formed package is then engaged by the middle box of theforming member and advanced from the second to the third treatingstation along a thin supporting plate aligned with the supporting plateat the first station. As the leading edge of the Vinfolded bottom flapadvances it rides up on a sloping extended portion of the plate at thesecond station, through an openingrbetween the ends of the plates at thelirst and second stations. This causes the infolded flap Vto move frombeneath the rst plate and slide along the upper surface of the secondplate where the ap will be in direct supporting contact with the bottomsof one row of bottles.

As the forming member moves upward, away Vfrom the partially formedpackage at rest at the second station, upwardly reciprocating foldingelements move against the sections of retaining members located on thebottom ap that has just been brought into position against the bottomsof one row of bottles. This pre-breaks the score lines and facilitatesfitting the opposite retaining member sectionsin proper relation at thenext treating station. While the package remains at thethird station thesecond bottom ap is folded partially inward below the supporting plateat this station.

The package is then engaged by the leading box of the forming member onits next downward movement and advanced along a supporting plate to thefourth station. At the end of the supporting plate at the third stationis an opening to receive the leading edge of the last infolded bottomflap. A sloping surface is provided at this opening which guides suchleading ap edge onto the upper surface of the plate at the fourthstation and against the bottoms of the adjacent row of bottles. Thefreshly glued edge portion of this flap is also brought into lappingrelation with the edge of the opposite ap. Y

As the forming member moves upward away from the package at rest at thefourth station, additional, upwardly reciprocable folding elements moveagainst the sections of retaining members located on the two bottomflaps which are now in lapping relation. The individual sections oftheretaining members are thus brought into their final upstanding positionsand in close interiitting relation.

In order to assure snug fitting of the carton around the bottles,pressure members are employed at the third and fourth stations. Thesemembers are provided on op- Vposite sides of the path of travel lof thepackages and are Y designed to force the carton wall portions closelyagainst the bottles while the bottom flaps are brought into their finalposition and while the sections of the retaining members are beingplaced in interfitted relation. Y Y A vertical pusher plate` is carriedon the leading'en'd of the frame carrying the forming members. Thisplate engages the trailing end of a package at the fourth station andmoves it into position onV a conveyor'designed to Vhold and advance thecompleted packages until the adhesive -has set. The pusher Vplateengages against Vthe completed package at the fourth station whilesucceeding partially formed packages are being advanced from one stationto another. The conveyor has a step-by-step motion and each package iscarried on three, "adjacent, nar` At this station one of the downfoldedbottom flapsk row supporting plates, the center plate having small postswhich are brought into holding relation with the retaining members onthe carton botte-m aps after the package has been moved into properposition at the receiving end of the conveyor. The conveyor has asuicient length to permit the adhesive on the carton to set by the timethe carton reaches the discharge end.

At the discharge end of the conveyor there may be provided a verticallyreciprocable blade, not shown, timed with the conveyor travel anddesigned to sever the connections between the two carton sections withthe exception of the connections between the bottom panels, which may bedone by other mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the packaging mechanism issuitably mounted on a base frame comprising upper and lower longitudinalmembers iti, all

and 11, 11 and intermediate longitudinal member i2.

The frame includes vertical members i3, i3 and transverse members 14,14. Supported on the base frame is a wrapper blank magazine and feedmechanism l5; blank gluing and advancing mechanism 16; a bottle conveyor17; four-way movable forming and conveying member indicated as a wholeat i3; structure comprising a rst treating station including removableblank support means indidicated 4as a whole at i9; additional structurecomprising second, third and fourth treating stations indicated at 2t?,21 and 22 respectively; and an off-bearing, glue drying conveyorindicated as a whole at 23. Partially formed and completed packages areindicated as a whole at 26, made up from wrapper blanks 27 and bottles28, 2S contained therein. Divided package units are indicated at 26a.

The bottles may be of various shapes, but the bottles herein illustratedare shown with relatively short necks and rounded shoulders and roundedsurfaces between the side walls and bottoms. The wrapper blanks are ofgenerally rectangular shape and formed from resilient, foldablepaperboard. The blanks as herein shown are designed to wrap twelvebottles arranged in two rows of six bottles each. The packages areintended to be readily divisible into two identical units of six bottleseach.

The blanks 27 are creased or scored along parallel lines 28, 2S and 29,29 to provide narrow panels 39, 30 which will engage the slopingsections 31 ofthe bottles between the necks and side walls. Additionalscores 32, 32 and 33, 33 provide narrow panels 343, 34 which engage therounded parts 35 of the bottles between their sides and bottoms. The toppanel 36 of the blank has neck receiving openings 37, 37 and fingeropenings provided by U-shaped slits 38, 3S permitting hinged tabs 39, 39to be swung inwardly of the package and providing finger openings forconvenience in carrying the package.

The principal side panels of the wrapper indicated at 40, 4t) liebetween score lines 29 and 32. The bottom flaps or panels indicated at41 and 42 are designed to be overlapped and -adhesively joined. For thispurpose a strip of adhesive 43 is applied along the free edge of panel42. Interlocking elements are also preferably employed to ioin thebottom panels. See FIGS. 2, 5, 2l, 22 and 23. Openings 44 are providedin panel 4l by forming V-shaped slits to release tab d5. In the oppositepanel 42 there are provided wing shaped locking tabs 46 which may beforced through the openings 4d when the panels are overlapped, as shownin FIG. 2l.

At the ends of each divisible six-bottle unit 26a, there are providedupstanding retaining elements, indicated as a whole in set up form at49, 49. These are formed as foldable corner portions in the blankadapted to be intertitted and permanently secured in upright conditionand disposed centrally of the open ends of the package to restrainbottles from outward displacement. The retaining portions are hingedalong diagonal score lines indicated at 59 on panel 41 and 50a on panel42. Score lines 51 and 51tr at right angles to the respective scores 50and 6 50a divide the corners into foldably connected sections 52, 53 and52a, 53a. Sections 53 and 53a are separated from their respective bottompanels by slits and are therefore carried on their companion sections 52and 52a. The end portions of sections 53 are preferably cut away tosimplify the operation of folding these sections. As will be laterdescribed in more detail, when the wrapper has Ibeen brought toenclosing condition with bottles therein, upward pressure against thecentral score lines S1 and Sla on the overlapped corner portions willcause these portions to rise and at the same time they will be foldedalong such central score lines because of the presence of the bottles.As glue is applied between these portions they will remain permanentlyin upright condition when the glue has set.

Bottle Conveyor The bottles are brought to the packaging machine onconveyor 17 which may be of the at top chain type passing around asprocket 55 lixed on driven shaft 56 journalled in the base frame. Theconveyor 17 preferably operates continuously land will slip beneath thebottles when held stationary at intervals. The bottles advance on theconveyor in two rows and are suitably separated into groups of twelve byconventional means such as star wheels. Guide bars 56 are provided alongthe sides of conveyor 17 and a supporting plate 57 is provided alongwhich the conveyor chain elements may slide. The conveyor 17 extendsbeneath the iirst forming station where the groups of bottles arebrought to rest against a movable stop mechanism indicated as a whole at58. In the present instance the leading bottles of the group, brought torest at the iirst station, move onto a plate S9 arranged at the level ofthe conveyor 17. At a suitable point, not shown herein, before thebottles arrive at the first treating station, paperboard dividers arepreferably placed within the sub groups of six bottles, as best viewedin FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

Blank Delivery The wrapper blanks are placed flat within a magazinehaving supporting rods 60, 60 from which blanks may be removeddownwardly one at a time by a suction cup on a pivoted arm 61 anddeposited on horizontal supports 62 which carry at their leading ends apair of downwardly curved guides 63, 63. See FIGS. 3 and 6. ,Theseguides serve to position the rear or trailing edge of the blank inproper position over the bottle group at the first station.

After the blank has been deposited on the supports 62 it is movedforward by an oscillating pusher finger 65, timed by suitable mechanismwith the Suction cup arm 61 and other operating parts. The blank isadvanced by the linger 65 in between upper and lower gripping rolls 66and 67 carried on the respective shafts 68 and 69 mounted in uprightframe elements 13u, 13b carried on the base frame. The shafts arecontinuously driven in opposite directions through pinions 70 and 71 bymeans of a motor 72 carried on frame element 13a and operativelyconnected with shaft 68 through suitable gearing in gear box 73.

As the blank is fed into position at the rst station glue is appliedalong the edge of panel 42, as indicated in FIG. 2. For this purpose aglue pan 74 is secured on frame element 13b. Within the pan is a roll 75bearing against a roll 76 secured on the shaft 69. Above roll 76 is acompanion roll 77 on shaft 63 arranged to bear on the upper surfaceofthe blank an keep the blank edge in proper contact with the glue roll.

First T rearing Station At the iirst station the bottles are held brieyby the stopmechanism 58 and the blank is deposited upon a pair ofremovable support rods 79, 79. See FIGS. 6, 9 land 10. The forward orleading edge of the blank engages the vertical guides Sil, Si?, locatedon side guide plates 81, 81

just above the bottle stops 58. Between the guides 63 and 80 the blankis caused to be positioned in exact registration with the bottle group.Just before the rear or trailing box of the forming and conveying member1S moves down to fold the blank about the top and sides of the bottlegroup the bottle stops will be moved apart, clearing arpath fortheadvance of-the bottles, and the blank support rods 79, 79 will beswung downward and outward to allow the blank to drop down with itsapertures around the bottle necks.

The removable support rods for holding the blank above the bottle groupare each secured on a pair of arms f 83, 83 swingable in vertical planestoward and away from each other as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Thearms 83, 83 extend through slots in the plates 81 and have their rearends secured in blocks 84, each xed on a rock shaft 85 carried inupright frame members-'13C and 13d secured to longitudinal frame members10, 10. For the purpose of controlling the pairs of arms 83, 83 to swingin unison, each shaft 85 has a pinion S6 thereon disposed within slotsin the respective uprights 13e and 13d. Meshing with each pinion 86 is asegmental gear or rack 87 pivoted at 88 inthe respective upright framemembers. Each segmental gear yhas an outwardly projecting arm 89connected by a link 90 Yto a crank arm 91. The two crank arms 911 aresecured at the ends of a rock shaft 92 which has a depending crank arm93 connected by a link 94 Yto a rocker arm 95 mounted on shaft 96supported in the frame members. The lower end of arm 95 has a camfollower roller 97 riding on cam 98 Vcarried on shaft 99. Seel FIG. 6. Acoil spring A100, having one end secured in the frame and the othersecured in the lower portion of Ithe arm 95, serves to hold the roller97 firmly against the cam98.

. As shown in FIG. 6 the cam is in position so that the follower 97 isbearing on its low area. As the cam rotates, rocking the lower end ofthe arm 95 is a clockwise direction, the blank support arms 83 with rods79 will be caused to swing down and away from supporting relation to theblank, thus freeing the blank to move down onto the necks of the bottleswith thetop panel of the blanks resting on the shoulders of the bottles.

The stop mechanism, indicated as a whole at 58, will now be described.As best shown in FIG. 11, attached to opposite longitudinal framemembers 10, v are two supporting and guide members 103, 103 located nearthe end of conveyor `17. In the upper portion of each member 103 is aguide wayfextending horizontally to receive rack bars 104, 104 movabletoward and from each other in a direction at right angles to theconveyor travel. At the inner end of each rack bar is an upstandingbottle engaging stop 1105 which may be formed from a short angle ironsection welded to the end of -the guide bar.V

The rack teeth of bars 104 are each in mesh with a pinion 106 rotatablysupported in member 2103. An additional, vertically extending rack barV107 is held in a guide way inY the member 103. At the lower end of eachrack Vbar 107 is a pivoted link 10S which is in turn connected the stopelements 105, 105 normally in bottle-group retaining position. A rockleverV 112, fulcrumed on a iixed pivot bar 113, has one end engaged withthe rod section of the cam which causes the stops to remain in openposition. As the cam rotates and the follower moves to the low sectionof the cam, the stops are moved to closed position to remain in suchposition for the desired interval to hold a bottle group at rest at Vthefirst station. Y

F arming and Conveying Member The forming and conveying member,indicated as a whole at 18, is guided through a four-directional path,namely, forward, upward, rearward and downward, and functions first tofold the wrapper about the top and sides of the bottle group at thefirst treating station and then moves the partially formed packagesstep-by-step past the three treating stations. The completed packages Yare finally delivered to the off-bearing conveyor 23 on which theyremain until the adhesive between the bottom iiaps and retaining partshas set.

As best seen in FIGS. l, 6 and 7, the forming and conveying membercomprises three elongated, downward opening compartments or boxes 120,121 and .122 secured to the under-side of a channel lbeam 123, one webof which is secured to a movable supporting frame 124. This frame ismounted for forward and rearward movement on another frame which ismounted for vertical movement on an upstanding stationary frame 126secured on the base frame. The movement of the forming boxes iscontrolled by a generally rectangular guide member 127 fixed on a crosspiece 128 on the frame 126. The guide member has a pair of inner andouter ribs 129 and 136 which provide a channel within which a roller131, secured to a depending, V-shaped part -132 on the frame 123 isguided. Y

The frame 124 has a pair of upwardly projecting bosses 134, y134;,apertured to receive a horizontally extending rod 135 having its endsfixedly secured in frame parts 136, 136 of the Yvertically movable framel125. The parts 136, 136 are suitably apertured to receiveindividually apair of vertically extending Yrods 137, 137 having their ends xed inbracket elements 138, 138 on the upstanding frame 126.

Means are provided for continuously moving the frame 124 through itsguided path. For this purpose a rigid -bar or rod 139 is secured withinan apertured boss l140 on the frame 124 so lthat the free end of the rodprojects rearward.

The rod 139 is suitably secured to links of a pair of sprocket chainsi141, 141 which run respectively over two groups of sprockets, includingtwo pairs of upper sprockets 142, 142e and two pairs of lower sprockets143, 143, mounted on shafts journalled between the sprockets on a beam144 secured to the upright parts of the frame 126. See FIG. l. The shaft145 which carries sprocketse 142g also has a driving sprocket 146 fixedthereon over which passes a sprocket chain 147' (see FIGS. 1 and 6)which extends down and passes around a sprocket 148 on a jack shaft 149.lThis shaft is driven at a substantially uniformspeed while the formingmember is moving on the downward, Vforward and upward legs of its closedpath. On the rearward'travel ofthe forming member it is moved at anaccelerated rate of speed. ForV shaft 116. The gear 151 has a crankpinv-152 .that is received in a slot'of a crank lever 153` keyed on theshaft l116. While the crank pin is in the portion of the slot of 109 andthe other carries a.k cam roller 114 bearing on a Y rotatable cam-115H(see FIG. VV6) fixed on a shaft 116, suitablyjournalled on the baseYframe. Rotation of the cam 115 opens and closes the stop elements 105,105 once for each completeV rotation.

Operation of the stops is timed with the movement ofthe rods 79 whichsupport the wrapper blank and Vwith the forming and conveying` the cranklever nearest the axis ofthe shaft 116 the movement transmitted to thegear 151 is slower than when the crank pin it in positions more remotefrom the axis of the shaft. The ratios of the various gearsfand theposition of the crank lever with respect to the position of the frame1241's such that the most rapid motion transmitted to the shaft 149 iswhen the frame 124 is in its rearward movement and guided along theupper part of the guide channel. Y f

'I'he vertically movable `frame 125 is counterbalanced to relieve strainon the driving gear. For this purpose outwardly projecting lugs 156, 156project from the frame parts 136. The ends of sprocket chains 157, 157are respectively secured to these lugs. The chains pass over individualsprockets y158 rotatable on spindles located in the upper part of theframe 126. The other end of each chain is secured to a coil spring 159having its lower end suitably secured on the base frame. For a moredetailed disclosure of the mechanism for operating the conveying andforming member reference is made to pending application above referredto, Serial No. 83 8,276.

rI'he forming boxes 120, 121 and 122 are substantially identical and forsimplicity only the box 120 will be described in detail. The front andrear walls of the box (see FIGS. 6 and l2) indicated at 160 and -161extend below the lower edges of the side members '162 and 163, The top164 of the inverted box is secured to the bottom web of channel beam123. Beneath the top 164 is supported a follower element 165 having acentral longitudinal portion 166 arranged to bear upon the top panel ofthe wrapper blank between the rows of bottles, and having laterallyextending portions 167, 167 to engage the top panel of the blankinwardly of the bottles at the ends of the bottle group. The follower165 is guided by a pair of pins or rods 168 secured at their lower endsto the follower and passing at their upper end portions throughapertured bosses 169 secured on the horizontal web of the channel member123. Coil springs 170, bearing at their lower ends against the follower,surround the pins 168 and have their upper ends bearing against the topwall 164 to urge the follower downward. Heads 171 on the pins limittheir downward movement.

In the operation of the first forming box 120 at the rst treatingstation let it be assumed that the wrapper blank has been delivered toits supported position on the rods 79 and the bottle group has movedinto position against the stops A165. The forming box will havecompleted its forward motion and will be travelling rearwardly along itsclosed path. At approximately the time when the forming box begins itsdownward travel, the cam 98 will rotate so that its high sectionwillbear against the cam follower, moving it clockwise as viewed in FIG.6. This will cause the linkage connections to swing segmental gear 87and rotate pinions 86 in opposite directions, causing the arms S3, 83 toswing down to positions where the support rods 79, 79 will move down, asshown in FIG. l0, a sutiicient distance to allow the blank to drop ormove down with its apertures around the bottle necks and with the toppanel resting against the shoulders of the bottles. Just followingrelease of the blank the cam 115 (see FIGS. 6 and 1l) will be rotated toengage cam follower 114 against the high section of the cam, vthusmoving the rocker arm 112 clockwise as viewed in these figures, causingracks 107 to move down and rack bars with their stops 105, 105 to moveapart. This clears the necessary space for the leading end 160 of thebox 120 to move down in facial contact with the forward end of thebottle group. The trailing end of the box 161 will move down along thetrailing end of the bottle group.

As the box 120 moves down toward theV bottle group, with the stopsseparated and the blank released, the ends 160 and 161 slide along thefront and rear of the bottle group and the follower 165 will engage thetop panel of the blank (see FIG. 13) to bring this panel snugly downupon the shoulders of the bottles. Further movement will bring the sides162, 162 of the box against the wrapper side walls 40, 48 to fold suchside walls down along the sides of the bottles. The forming member willthen have reached the limit of downward travel and will then moveforward to deliver the bottle group, with folded wrapper thereon, to thesecond forming station where the bottle group will be left as theforming member moves upwardly away from the group.

As soon as the bottle group clears the rst station the Second T rearingStation At the second treating station two functions are performed. Thefirst is to prefold the flap 41 in below the plate 59 and the second isto bring this flap up into direct supporting contact with the bottles.This second step is performed as the package begins to be transferredfrom the second to the third station. The plate 59 on which the packageis brought to rest at the second station has a width somewhat less thanthe width of the bottle group. See FIG. 16, which shows the edge ofplate 59 terminating midway of the center of the row on the left, asviewed in FIG. 16. Plate 59 is supported on a pair of vertical posts174, 174 welded to one of a pair of parallel bars 10a and 18h secured onthe base frame. Side guide bars 175 and 176, supported respectively onvertical brackets 177, 177 and 178, `178, retain the packages in properalignment on the plate 59. These guide bars preferably extend to pointsadjacent the off-bearing conveyor 26. The guide bars are preferably aredoutward, at their receiving ends as shown in FIG. l5, to engage thesides of the wrapper and keep them against the bottle group.

The means for prefolding the first bottom ap 41 comprise an elongatedfolding element 180 (see FIGS. 15 and 16) which is in the form of anangle bar extending longitudinally of the plate 59. This angle bar issecured on a pair of blocks 181, 181 having guide rods 182 securedtherein, slidable in openings in brackets 183 secured on frame member10b. A link 184 connected to each block 181, has its outer end pivotallyconnected to rocker arm 185 secured on a rock shaft 186 Supported on thebase frame. A short rocker arm 187 is secured on bar 186 and has itslower end pivotally connected to a reciprocable cam-actuated member 188having a bifurcated end 189, slidably related to a hub 190 of rotary cam191 secured on a longitudinally extending shaft 192. This shaft 192carries a bevel gear 193 at its end which meshes with a similar bevelgear 194 on driven shaft 116. See FIGS. 7 and 16.

The member 188 has a cam follower roller 195 which bears on the edge ofcam 191 and is held in firm contact with the cam by a coil spring 196secured to member 188 at one end and to the base frame at its other end.As the high section of cam 191 moves into contact with the follower, therock lever -185 will be forced to the right, as viewed in FIG. 16, andthe folding element 180 will fold flap 41 inwardly beneath the plate 59.The timing is such that the Vfolder moves inward after the package isbrought to rest at the second station and is moved outward before theforming and conveying member engages the package to move it away fromthe second station.

After the fiap 41 has been folded, as above described, the next step isto bring it into flat contact with the bottoms of the bottles. For thispurpose the plate 59 is preferably terminated a short distance beyondthe point where the leading edge of box 12()v stops in its advancingmovement. A narrow portion of a plate 197 is preferably disposed in thesame plane with plate 59 and an adjacent portion of plate 197, indicatedat 198, is inclined or curved downward below the level of plate 59. As`the package is advanced from the second station by the middle formingbox 121 the tlap 41 rides up on this sloping portion 198 so as to slidealong the plate 197 where it will come into position between the plateand the bottoms of the bottles as the package is advanced.

T hrd Treating Station At the third treating sta-tion four principalfunctions are performed. The first is to prefold upwardly thebottleretaining corner parts 52 and 53 on the flap 41 that were Yin EG.l 18.

swingrand bear against thepackage. Thus, the wrapper folded upward andthen brought into supporting relation with the bottles as the packagewas moved to the third station. The second step is to bring the upperand lower narrow panels 39, 30 and 34, 34 snugly against the respectivebottle shoulder surfaces and the sloping surfaces between the bottleside walls and bottoms. The third step is to prefold the second ap 42into position belo'w the` plate 197, and the fourth step is to bringthis ap into lapping relation with flap 41 and into supporting relationto the bottles above such flap.

As shown in FIGS. 7, l7 and 18, the plate 197 extends the length of thethird station and is supported in asimilar manner to plate 59 upon posts199 welded to longitudinal frame Vbar 10b. Immediately after the packageisibrought to the third station by the center box 121 and the box hasrisen free of the package, it is desirable to urge the narrow panelsagainst the bottle shoulders and against the inwardly curved or inclinedbottle surfaces between the sides and bottoms of the bottles, as bestseen in FiG. 18. For this purpose two sets of clamping members areemployed, one set operation on each side of the package.

ling elements 29S having their upper ends curved toward the path of thepackages and carrying a clamp rod 206, which will engage the narrowupper panel of the wrapper. The block 204 carries a lower clamp element207 with a bevelled face toengage the lower narrow panel of the wrapper.The' clamping member is moved toward and from the'package by a linkagesystem including a link 2&8 joined to'a bracket depending from theblock2tl4. Thislink is pivotally connected to a rocker arm 209 fixed ona rock shaft A2142i extending longitudinally of the machine with itsends mounted in thevbase frame members. The rock shaft 210 is operatedbycarnmeans which also operates clamping members at the fourth treatingstation, and such cam means will be described in due course in thedescription of the fourth station.

For supporting the clamping member 261 a bracket 211 suitably carried onthe ,base frame, pivotally supports a rockV bar, the end of which isindicated at 212. A-pair of rods 213 are rsecured on the bar 212 toextend vertically.` At their upper ends the rods 213 have a clampingelement 214 securedV thereto, adapted to engage the adjacent, uppernarrow panel of the wrapper. To engage the lower narrow wrapper'panelthere is secured a rod 215 close to and parallel with the rock'bar 212.Projecting outwardly of the bar 212 is a lever 216 to which is pivotallyconnected a link rod 217, which is in turn pivotally connected to a rocklever 218 fixed on a rock `shaft 219 suitably mounted on the base frameto extend longitudinally of the frame andV parallel with the rock shaft219. The means for rocking the rock shaft 19 comprises a downwardlyextending lever 226 fixed to shaft 210, having a link rod 221 pivotallyconnected at its end. The link rod y221 isV pivotally connected at itsother end to a lever 222 xed to and extending upwardly from the rockshaft 219. It is apparent that when the cam operated rock shaft 210 ismoved clockwise, as viewed in FIG. i8, the clamping means 260 will moveagainst the package. Likewise, since the'link rod 221 will move towardthe left, this will cause link 218 to swing in a counterclockwisedirection, bringing the links 213 and 217 .into substantially a straightline, as shown This causes the clamping member 291 to 12. will beVpressed firmly against the bottle group by each clamping member. It isto be noted that the clamp rod 215 will swing downward against narrowpanel 34 with a wiping action.

While the clamping members are held against the package the bottleretaining parts '52, 53 at the opposite edges of the blank, as Well ascentrally of the blank, are folded upward for the purpose of prebreakingthe score lines and facilitating the final folding operation of the twooverlapping, companion sets of retaining parts at the fourth station.For this purpose there are provided four vertically extending foldingblades or fingers 225,V

226, 227 and 228, arranged to move upward through an opening 229 in theplate 197. TheV blades are triangular in horizontal cross section andthe edges are arrangedV to bear against the fold line between eachrespective pair of folded portions 52 and 53, as illustrated in FIG. 19.it is apparent that as the foldably connected portions are raised by theblades, the portion 53, which is carried on the portion 52, will bearagainst an adjacent end bottle Y and will -thus be folded symmetricallywith the portion 52 while the fold line between the two portions willassume a vertical position.

The folding blades are secured at their lower ends on a bar 23%)' heldon the upper side of a vertically movable frame 231 having openings intowhich are received vertical guide rods 232, 232 and 233, 233 securedbetween lower frame membersll and upper frame members lila Vand 10b. Oncentrally located lugs extending down from the underside of the frame231 is a cam follower roller 234 arranged 'to bear uponga rotary cam 235fixed on shaft 192. vA coil spring 236, having one end secured to theframe 231 and the other secured to the base frame, tends tourge theframedownward to keep the follower in contact with the face of the cam 235.The action of the camV is such that the blades will be moved upwardimmediately after the wrapper holding clamps have moved inward againstthe package. The blades need not remain in raised positionfor more'thana short interval so will move downward promptly after being raised.

While the clamping members continue to be held against the package, theflap 42 is folded beneath the plate 197 i by the folding mechanism atthe third station. The means for folding this ap comprises an elongatedfolding element 237 (see FIGS. 7 and `18) which is in the form of anangleV bar extending longitudinally of the plate 197. This angle baris'secured on a pair of blocks 238, 238 having guide rods 239 securedtherein, slidable in openings in brackets 240 secured on frame member10a. A rock lever 241,.having an elongated pin-receiving opening Y inits upper end,.is connected to an outwardly extending bracket242,*carrying a pivot pin received in the elongated opening. The rocklever is mounted on a rock shaft supported on the frame and ispivotallyconnected at its lower end to the end of a cam-actuated member 243having a bifurcated Yend Y244, slidably related to a hub 245 of a rotarycam 246 secured on the shaft 192. 24'3 has'a cam follower ro1ler147which bears on theV edge of cam 246 and is held in firm contact with thecam by a coil spring 248 secured Ato member 243. at one end to 'the baseframe at its other end. As. the high section of cam 246 moves intocontact with the follower, the upper end of rock lever 241 will move tothey left, as

Y viewed in FIG. 18, andthe folding element237V will fold The timing isThe member 13 depress the tabs 39, 39 in the nger openings 3S. See FIGS.2 and 7.

The final step of bringing flap 42 into lapping relation with ap 41 andinto supporting relation to the bottles is effected as the third box,after coming down over the package, advances it to the fourth station.For this purpose an elongated plate 251, which extends the length of thefourth station, has a downwardly inclined end portion 252, similar infunction to the inclined end 198 of plate 197. This inclined end portionextends below the end of the plate 197, and the latter is terminated toprovide a gap to permit the folded iiap 42 to slide edgewisetherethrough. See FIG. 7. Thus, as the package is advanced, tiap 42rides up the inclined end 252 and is brought between the bottles andplate 251. The glued edge portion of ilap 42 will also be brought intolapping contact with the edge portion of ap 41.

Fourth T rearing Station At the fourth treating station three functionsare performed. The first is to clamp the wrapper again snugly about thebottle group and next, while the wrapper is so clamped, the two sets ofend retaining portions, which at this station are in overlappingposition, are folded up by additional folding blades. The thirdoperation is to force the Y-shaped locking elements on ap 42 through theopenings in ap 41.

The plate 251 on which the package is brought to rest at the fourthstation (see FIG. 20) is supported on vertical posts, two of which areindicated at 254, 254, having their lower ends welded on thelongitudinal members a and 10b. The plate 251 has an elongated openingto admit the four folding blades 255, 256, 257 and 258.

Immediately after the package is brought to the fourth station by theleading box 122 and such box has risen free of the package, clampingmembers 260 and 261 at this station will again clamp the wrapper firmlyabout the bottle group, bearin gupon the upper and lower narrow panelsof the wrapper as previously done at the third station. 'I'he members atthis station are preferably symmetrical and are supported on reverselydisposed L-shaped brackets 262 and 263 suitably secured to respectiveframe members 10b and 10a. The upper end of each bracket has a pair ofguide openings to receive reciprocable rods 264 and 265. The ends of thepairs of rods are secured respectively in blocks 266 and 267 upon whichare secured upstanding clamp elements 268 and 269, having inwardlycurved upper ends and carrying clamp rods 270 and 271 which engagerespectively the opposite narrow upper panels of the wrapper. The blocks266 and 267 each carry inwardly directed pieces indicated respectivelyat 272 and 273 which have -bevelled faces arranged to t the downwardlyand inwardly sloping lower, narrow panels at opposite sides of thepackage.

On the lower sides of blocks 266 and 267 are depending lugs onto each ofwhich is pivotally secured a link, indicated at 274 and 275, connectedrespectively to rock levers 276 and 277 secured on rock shafts 210 and219, referred to above in describing the third station. Fixed on shaft210 is a depending arm 27S at the lower end of which is pivotallyconnected a cam-actuated member 279 having a bifurcated end 280,slidably related to a hub 281 of a rotary cam 282 secured on the shaft192. The member 279 has a cam follower roller 283 which bears on theedge of cam 282 and is held in firm contact with the cam by a coilspring 284 secured to member 279 at one end and to the base frame attheV other end. This cam mechanism operates the clamping memberssimultaneously at both stations three and four. As the high section ofcam 282 moves against the follower, the arm 278 swings clockwise, asviewed in FIG. 20. This causes clockwise turning of rock shaft 210 andcounterclockwise turning of rock shaft 219 which will bring both sets ofclamping members at the third and fourth stations into their clampingpositions. The timing is such that both 14 sets of clamping members willmove inward against the package promptly after the forming member movesupwardly, clear of the package.

Immediately after the clamping members move against the package thevertically movable blades for shaping the bottle retaining members willbe caused to rise by means of mechanism similar to that employed at thethird station. The blades are mounted on a frame 287 guided on xed,vertical rods. The frame has a cam follower roller 288 held in adepending lugs centrally of the frame. The roller 288 bears on a rotarycam 289 fixed on shaft 192 and the frame is urged downwardly by coilspring 290. As the high section of the cam 289 moves beneath roller 288the frame with its blades is lifted into contact with the foldablyconnected portions 52a and 53a on the wrapper flap 42. At this stationeach one of the series of foldable portions of flap 41 that formretaining members are in overlapping relation with the companionfoldable portion on flap 42. As indicated in FIG. 2, a strip of adhesiveis applied that coats the foldable retaining member portions 52a and 53aacross the entire blank as well as parts in between the foldableportions. Thus, as the retaining members are folded into their uprightpositions, as shown in FIG. 5, it is to be understood that the gluedsurface of the portions 52a and 53a will lie against the companionportions 52 and 53. The vertically movable blades will engage theseportions along their fold lines and the flat parts of the blades willbear against the portions 52a and 53a, on one side, and the portions 52and 53 at the other side will bear against the surfaces of the adjacentend bottles of each package unit of six bottles.

Simultaneously with the operation above described a group of four lingerelements 293, 293 fixed on the frame 287 move upwardly against theY-shaped locking parts 46, 46 on ap 42 and force each of these partsthrough individual openings 44 in flap 41 as indicated in FIG. 23.

The timing of the cam mechanism is such that the blades and ngers onframe 287 will be withdrawn downwardly out of contact with the packageand the clamping members will spread apart before the forming memberbegins its next advancing movement. The completed package at the fourthstation is then ready to be moved to the conveyor 23. To effect thismovement there is atiixed to the leading face of the forming member apusher bracket 294 which is brought into position at the trailing end ofthe package and ejects the package from the fourth station as theforming member advances.

The conveyor 23 is supported on suitable side frame members andcomprises a pair of sprocket chains 295 passing around sprockets 296 onshaft 297. For simplicity, only the receiving end of conveyor 23 isillustrated and it is to be understood that the discharge end may besimilarly constructed. The links of the conveyor chains support narrow,transversely extending plates in groups of three indicated at 298:1,298]?, 298C. The eective dimension of the groups of plates measuredlengthwise of the conveyor is preferably slightly greater than the widthof a package. The inner plate 298b may be made somewhat narrower thanthe plates on each side and these plates 298b carry short, upstandingposts 299, 299 of a size and shape to lit snugly within the angles ofthe bottle retaining members. See FIGS. 24 and 25.

The conveyor 23 is driven step-by-step to advance a distance slightlymore than a package width. The conveyor is timed with the forming memberand after each Y forward movement, the conveyor will stop so that theintermediate plates 29811 are at an inclination Iand the upper ends ofthe upstanding posts 299 -will not extend above the general level of theplates. An L-shaped supporting member 380 is supported on the conveyorframe at the receiving end of the conveyor. As each package is movedfrom the fourth station by the pusher bracket 294, it will slide on thenarrow conveyor plate 298a and on the horizontal part of the L-shapedmember 300. As

therconveyor then advances one step, the posts on plate 298b will moveup into position in the angles of the bottle retaining members and willhold these members upright. The retaining members will be held thusuntil the adhesive has set. The plates of the conveyor 23 may beslidably supported on rails between the sprockets to guide the platesevenly in a single plane. At the discharge end of conveyor 23 thepackages may be removed mechanically or by hand, as desired.V v

The drive -for the bottle conveyor, forming member and cam shaft 192 istaken from a motor 301 connected through suitable transmission togearing within gear box 302, from which yis driven a shaft 303 on whichis iixed a pinion 304 meshing with a spur gear .305 on shaft 116. SeeFIGS. 6 and 7. A sprocket 306 xed on shaft 116 drives a sprocket chainY307 passing around sprocket 308 on shaft 56 which carries sprocket 55to drive the bottle conveyor. The cam shaft 99 is driven by a sprocket369 thereon'around which passes a chain 310 and which in `turn passesaround a sprocketiixed on shaft 56. The vacuum cup arm 61 and pushernger 65 may be operatively connected to cams secured to shaft 99, orVmay be operated in any other desired manner, the details of which arenot vital to the mechanism of the present invention.

The conveyor 23 is suitably driven step-by-s'tep by means of a crank 312secured on shaft 192. 'Ihis stepby-step driving means may besubstantially identical to the drive illustrated for-the off-bearingconveyor in the pending application, Serial No. 838,276, above referredto, or it may be driven step-by-step by `other conventional mechanism.

All of the cams in practice are adjustable to.obtain the `exactsynchronism required in the operation Yof vthe various parts. Theapproximate positioning and shape of the Various cams have beenillustrated 4but it is to be understood that these details have notnecessarily been shown with exactitude. v

To summarize the operation-for each full movement of the forming member18 through its closed path a segregated group of bottles will beadvanced against the stop-mechanism` 58 and a freshly glued blank willbe deposited on the blank support rods 79 at the first treating station.At a point in the travel of the forming member suicientlyahead of itslarrival on the downward leg of its movement, the support rods will bewithdrawn from j station@ When the box 12) has moved forward the blanksupport rods and the stops will return to their previous positions.After the box 120 moves away from the package at the second station, andwhile the packagey is at rest, the flap 41 will be folded under plate 59by the Afolder 180.

The package Yis then Vready to be advanced, which is done by therse'condor middle boxV 121. As the package moves forward the flap 41-rides upthe inclined part 198 of plate 197 and the ilap is Ythus brought betweenthe bottles and such plate.

At the third station the foldable bottle retaining portions 52 and 53 on1lapf41 are folded up to pre-break their score lines, side clampsV areapplied to the narrow panels of the wrapperto cause these panels toengageV closely the sloping Yshoulders and inwardly sloping lower endsof the bottles.V After theY folding bladeswhich have engaged theportions 52 and 5.3 have Vmoved down, the

Y. folder 237 moves against flap 442 and folds it'beneath,thea-plater197. The clamps `at Ythethird station are re- The.

l tracted and the leading box'122'encompasses the package and moves itforward. The folded flap V42 will move up the inclined end of plate 251,thus bringing the glued edge portion of this flap beneath the edge offlap 41 as the package moves to the -fourth station.

While the package is at rest at the fourth station the package is againpressed snugly about the bottle group in a manner similar to 'that ofthe third station and while the 4clamps are in their holdingposition'folding blades move up to raise the overlapping portions of thebottle retaining members to their upright position. At the same time theY-shaped locking parts of'ilap 42 are pressed through the openings 44 inflap 41 by fingers 293. The clamps, folding blades and lock operatinglingers then move away from the package. The forming member, then havingmoved down, will engage the package -at the fourth station and will pushit onto the conveyor 23 by the pusher bracket 294. As the conveyor movesastep forward the posts 299 on the narrow conveyor plates will move intoposition to hold the upfolded retainer member n vertical position whilethe adhesive sets.

From the-foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides aneifective mechanism for the production of bottle packages in which thewrapper snugly encloses the bottles. By providing a conveying andforming member with package advancing boxes each of which is providedwith 'a follower to bear'upon 'the wrapper`top panel this part of thewrapper is kept in the desired'position as other portions of the wrapperare treated. At the third and fourth stations. The downward pressure"that is applied to the top panel and the inward pressureapplied by theclamping means tends to assure the correct infolding of the secondbottom flap and overlapping of VtheV 'two ilaps as well as the correctupward folding of the retaining members which engage the end bottles ofthe packages. Further, by the transfer ofthe completed packages to theoff-bearing conveyor equipped with small `posts for erngaging within theangles of the bottle retaining members and retaining these posts in suchposition until the Vadhesive has set, theproduction of an effectivepackage is assured.

While the present description sets forth a preferred'erm- Y Y bodimentof the invention, numerous changes maybe made in the constructionwithout departing from'the spirit of the invention, and it is thereforedesiredV that the present embodiment be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A machine for packing two rows of bottles or similar articles withinan open-end, Wrap-around carton ofthe type comprising a at, rectangularblank having a central Y top'wall panel formed with die-cut openings ofVa'size Y to receive the necks ofthe bottles-,to be enclosed and allowingthe top wall panel to engage the sloping bottleY tion along a fixedpath, means for retaining a group of a predetermined number of bottlesat an assembly station on saidv conveying means, means for applyingadhesive along the free edge of a bottom flap of a carton of the typereferred to, and means for assembling such carton V'with Y the die-cutopenings in the top panel surrounding thene'cks Y of a group of bottlesat the assembly station, forming'and advacing means comprising anopen-bottom', box-like elernent of Ya size to iit overthe bottle group,guide means Yfor the forming element for controlling its movementthrough;

a rectangular pathin a vertical plane,one'portion o'f-'the path of theforming element on the guide means being vertically downward over theassembly station to encompass the bottle group to press the top panelagainst the shoulders of the bottles and fold the blank side panelsabout the sides of the bottle group, the second portion of the path ofthe forming element on the guide means being forwardly of the conveyingpath to advance the assembled bottle group and blank beyond the assemblystation, the third portion of the path being, vertically upward toremove the forming element from the bottle group, and mechanismeffective after the bottle group has advanced beyond the assemblystation for folding the bottom flaps into lapping relation against thebottoms of the bottles with the adhesive coated surface between the aps.

2. A machine for packing two rows of bottles or similar articles withinan open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising a at, rectangularblank having a central top wall panel, such blank being scored alongparallel lines to define the top wall, side panels and bottom iiaps, thefree outer corners of each bottom iap being scored along diagonal linesextending across each corner, such lines at the corners of one bottom apterminating in a slit to provide, at each of such corners, upwardlyfoldable, dihedral angle portions, and a second upwardly foldableportion on each corner of the other bottom flap adapted to be joinedadhesively to the respective dihedral angle portions, such portionsforming, when joined as the carton is set up, upstanding retainingmembers disposed centrally of the ends of the bottom to prevent outwarddisplacement of 'the end bottles, such machine comprising incombination,

supporting means for advancing thereon a group of two rows of bottleswith the rows arranged parallel to the path of movement, and on whichbottle group a wrapper blank of the type referred to has been placed inassembled relation therewith, having each side flap and attached bottomap folded down about the sides of the bottle group and with one of thebottom aps having had applied thereto a fresh coating of adhesive alongits edge portion, means for folding the unglued bottom iiap intosupporting position beneath the row of bottles adjacent such flap, meansacting in sequence for folding the adhesive coated flap into supportingposition beneath the other row of bottles and in lapping relation withthe opposite bottom flap, and means for folding upwardly the cooperatingportions at the free corners of the bottom iiaps, whereby said portionsmay be adhesively secured in permanently upstanding position.

3. A machine, as dened in claim 2, having combined therewith ano-bearing conveyor adapted to be advanced step-by-step not less than thewidth of a completed bottle package, and disposed with its path oftravel at right angles to the path of travel ofthe bottle groups,intermittently operating means for moving a package endwise onto theott-bearing conveyor, said off-bearing conveyor comprising a pluralityof groups of narrow plates extending transversely of its travel forsupporting the packages transferred thereto, one of said plates locatedcentrally of each group having spaced, upstanding, short posts thereonspaced to fit individually within the angle of the upright bottleretaining -members to hold the cooperating portions of said members incontactduring advance of the conveyor while vthe adhesive between theportions becomes set.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3, in which the groups of narrow platesare secured on sprocket chain links, rotatable sprockets for saidchains, the axes of said sprockets being olset from the path of deliveryof the packages in the direction of advancing movement of theoff-bearing conveyor, such conveyor being brought to rest between itsintermittent movements with the posts on the centrally located platesinclined on the contour of the sprockets, whereby the upper ends of theposts will remain below the general supporting surface of theoft-bearing conveyor, and an independent, at supporting member supportedat the level of the conveyor and in close relation to the sprockets,whereby packages, when delivered endwise onto the off-bearing conveyor,are supported in part by a conveyor plate and in part yby theindependent supporting member. if l 5. In a machine for packing a groupof two rows of bottles or similar articles within an open-end,wrap-around carton of the type comprising a dat, rectangular blankhaving a central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a sizeto receive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the topwall to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank having parallelscores therein defining side panels with narrow panels between the sideand top panels arranged to bear on the sloping shoulders of the bottlegroup to be enclosed, the blank including bottom flaps adapted to besecured in lapping relation beneath the bottle group, the combination ofmeans for supporting a bottle group to receive a blank of the typedescribed with the necks of the bottles projecting through the die-cutopenings in the top panel, an open-bottom, box-like forming element of asize to fit over the bottle group, means for moving the forming memberdown over the assembled blank and bottle group to fold the side panelsto extend along the sides of the bottle group, a thin, elongated,stationary plate disposed in operative relation to the supporting meansfor the bottle group, means for moving the forming element into positionlongitudinally over said plate while encompassing the blank and bottlegroup to transfer the bottle group onto the plate, means for moving theforming element upwardly out of encompassing relation to the bottlegroup, a clamping element at a side of the plate mounted for in and outmovement to clamp a narrow panel irmly against the sloping shoulder ofthe bottle group, means for moving the clamping element, a reciprocablebottom flap folder arranged to cooperate with the clamping element andhaving a folding bar extending lengthwise alongside the plate andarranged for limited inward movement transversely to the plate and inclose relation to its under surface to fold a bottom flap inward beneaththe plate, means for moving the flap folder to its folding positiontimed to operate while the clamping element is in clamping relation tothe narrow panel.

6. In a machine for packing a group of two rows of bottles or similararticles within an open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising aat, rectangular blank having a central top wall panel formed withdie-cut openings of a size to receive the necks of the bottles to beenclosed and allowing the top wall to engage the sloping bottleshoulders, such blank having parallel scores therein defining sidepanels and bottom iiaps with narrow panels between the side and toppanels arranged to bear on the sloping shoulders of the bottle group tobe enclosed and with additional narrow panels to bear on the roundedlower ends of the bottles, the bottom flaps being adapted to be securedin lapping relation beneath the bottle group, the combination of meansfor supporting a bottle group to receive a blank of the type describedwith the necks of the bottles projecting through the die-cut openings inthe top panel, open-bottom, box-like forming element of a size to litover the bottle group, means for moving the forming member down over anassembled blank and bottle group to fold the side panels to extend alongthe sides of the bottle group, a thin, elongated, stationary platedisposed in operative relation to the supporting means for the bottlegroup, means for moving the forming element into position longitudinallyover said plate while encompassing the blank and bottle group totransfer the bottle group onto the plate, means for moving the formingelement upwardly out of encompassing relation to the bottle group, apair of upper vand lower clamping elements at aside of the plate mountedfor in and out movement to clamp the upper and lower narrow panelsfirmly against the respective sloping shoulder and lower rounded cornerof the bottle group, means for moving the pair of clamping elements, areciprocable bottom iiap folder arranged to cooperate with the clampingelements and having a folding bar extending lengthwise alongside theplate and arranged for l@ limited inward movement transversely to theplate and in close relation to its under surface to fold a bottom flapinward beneath the plate, means for moving the flap` folder to itsfolding position timed to operate while the clamping elements are inclamping relation to the narrow panels.

7. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end,Wrap-around carton of the type comprising a rectangular blank having acentral top wall formed with die-cut openings to receive the necks ofbottles to be enclosed, such blank being scored along parallel lines todene the top wall panel, side panels and bottom aps, such machinecomprising, in combination, a continuously operating conveyor foradvancing a group of bottles in upright position along a iixed path,movable stop means for retaining a group of bottles at an assemblystation at the discharge end of said conveyor, means for delivering awrapper blank of the type referred to onto a bottle group at theassembly station, an open-bottom, box-like, forming and advancingelement of a size to t over the top and sides of the bottle group topress the top panel against the shoulders of the bottles and fold theside walls down about the sides of the bottle grcupsupporting andguiding means for the forming element to guide it from a position abovethe blank and bottle group vertically downward to encompass the blankand bottle group and thereafter to advance such group beyond the end ofthe conveyor, and mechanism for moving the stop means from its bottleengaging position prior to the movement of the forming element into fullencompassing relation to the bottle group and wrapper blank.

8. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end,wrap-around carton of the type comprising a rectangular blank having acentral top wall formed with die-cut openings to receive the necks ofbottles to be enclosed, such blank being scored along parallel lines todefine'the top wall panel, side panels and bottom flaps, such machinecomprising, in combination, a continuously operating conveyor foradvancing a group of bottles in upright position along a lixed path,movable stop means for retaining a group of bottles at an assemblystation at the discharge end of said conveyor, displaceable blanksupports adjacent the stop means and above the group of bottles held bythe stop means at the assembly station, means for delivering a wrapperblank of the type referred to onto the displaceable supports, means fordisplacing the sup'- ports to release the blank onto a bottle group atthe assembly station, an open-bottom, box-like, forming and advancingelement of a size to t over the top and sides of the bottle group topress the top panel against the shoulders of the bottles and fold theside walls down about the sides of the bottle group, supporting andguiding means for the forming element to guide it from a position abovethe blank and bottle group vertically downward to encompass the blankand bottle group and thereafter to advance such group beyond'the end ofthe conveyor, and mechanism for moving the stop means from its bottleengaging position prior to the movement of the forming element into fullencompassing relation to the bottle group and wrapper blank.

9. A machine for packing two row ofrbottles within an open-end,wrap-around carton ofthe type comprising a rectangular blank having acentral top wall formed Y il Y Y open-bottom, box-like, forming andadvancing element of a size to t over the top and sides of the bottlegroup to press the top panel against the shoulders of the bottles andfold the side walls down about the sides of the bottle group, supportingand giuding means for the forming element to guide it from a positionabove the blank and bottle group vertically downward to encompass thelblank and Ibottle group and thereafter to advance such group beyond theend of the conveyor, the meansr for moving the displaceable supports'being timed to displace the supports immediately prior to the engagementof the forming element with the wrapper blank.

l0. A machine for packing two row of bottles within an openend,wrap-around carton of the type comprising Y a ilat, rectangular blankhaving a central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a sizeto receive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the topwall panel to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank beingscored along parallel lines to deline the top wall panel, side panelsand bottom flaps, such machine comprising, in combination, a conveyorfor advancing a group of two rows of bottles in upright positionrto anassembly station at its discharge end, bottom ap folding mechanismlocated beyond the discharge end of the Vconveyor, including a lfixed,elongated plate aligned with the conveyor to support a bottle groupdischarged from the conveyor, means for depositing a flat blank of thetype referred to onto the bottles at said assembly station with thedie-cut openings in the top panel surrounding the necks of the bottles,an open-bottom, box-like, forming and advancing element of a size to titover the top and sides of the bottle group, guiding and supporting meansfor movably guiding the forming element from a position above the blankand bottle group vertically downward over such blank and bottle group topress the top panel against the shoulders of the bottles and fold theside walls down about the sides of the group,

Y said guiding means'being formed to guide the forming with die-cutopenings to `receive the necks'of bottles to K ports, means for movingthe supports to release theYY Yblank'onto a bottle group at'the assemblystation, and an and advancing element beyond the discharge end oftheconveyor and onto the elongated plate of the bottom` ap foldingmechanism.

11. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an openend, wraparound carton of the type comprising a flat, rectangular blank having acentral top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size to receivethe necks of the bottles to be enclosed to allow the top wall panel toengage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank being scored alongparallel lines to define the top wall panel, sidepanels and lbottomliaps, such machine comprising, in combination, a conveyor for advancinga groupof two rows of bottles in upright position to an assembly stationat its discharge end, bottom ap folding mechanism located beyond thedischarge end of the conveyor, including a fixed, thin, elongated platealigned with the conveyor to support a bottle group discharged from theconveyor and including a transversely movable folder arranged to moveinward closely below the plate, means for depositing a ilat blank of thetype referred to onto the bottles at said assembly station with thedie-cut openings in the top panel surrounding the necks of the bottles,an open-bottom, box-like, forming and advancing element of a size to tover the top and sides of the bottle group, guiding and supporting meansfor movably guid-V ing the forming element ythrough a closed,rectangularY path, one portion of theV path being from a position abovethe assembly station vertically downward over theblank and bottle groupto pressthe top panel against the vance the assembled bottle group andblank from the assembly'station on the conveyor and onto said plate,Vthe third portion of the path of the guiding means being verticallyupward to elevate the forming element and leave the bottle group andwrapper on the plate, and means operable following the upward movementof the forming element to move the folder inwardly beneath the plate tofold one of the bottom flaps.

l2. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end,wrap-around carton of the type comprising a flat, rectangular blankhaving a central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a sizeto receive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the topwall panel to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank beingscored along parallel lines to deline the top wall panel, side panelsand bottom aps and narrow connecting panels between the top and sidesand between the sides and bottom flaps, such narrow panels being adaptedrespectively to engage against the sloping shoulder portions and roundedlower portions of the bottles, such machine comprising, in combination,a conveyor for advancing a group of two rows of bottles in uprightposition to an assembly station at its discharging end, bottom flapfolding mechanism located beyond the discharge end of the conveyor,including a xed, thin, elongated plate aligned with the conveyor tosupport a bottle group discharged from the conveyor, means fordepositing a llat blank of the type referred to onto the bottles at saidassembly station with the die-cut openings in the top panel surroundingthe necks of the bottles, an open-bottom, boxlike, forming and advancingelement of a size to fit over the top and sides of the bottle group,guiding and supporting means for movably guiding the forming elementthrough a closed, rectangular path, one portion of the path being from aposition above the assembly station vertically downward over the blankand bottle group to press the top panel against the shoulders of thebottles and fold the side wall panels down about the sides of the group,the second portion of the path of the forming element on the guidingmeans being longitudinally of the conveyor and elongated plate toadvance the assembled bottle group and blank from the assembly stationon the conveyor and onto said plate, the third portion of the path ofthe guiding means being vertically upward to elevate the forming elementand leave the bottle group and wrapper on the plate, means operablefollowing the rising movement of the forming element to press the narrowpanels against the bottle shoulders and the rounded bottom portions ofthe rows of bottles, and means operable while such narrow panel pressingmeans is in pressing position to actuate the bottom ap folding mechanismto fold a bottom ap inwardly beneath the plate.

13. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end,wrap-around carton of the type comprising a at, rectangular blank havinga central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size toreceive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the topwall panel to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank beingscored along parallel lines to dene the top wall panels, side panels andbottom ilaps and narrow connecting panels between the top and sides andbetween the sides and bottom aps, such narrow panels being adaptedrespectively to engage the sloping shoulder portions and rounded lowerportions of the bottles, such machine comprising, in combination, meansfor grouping bottles, means for assembling a wrapper blank of the typedescribed over a bottle group with the bottle necks projecting throughthe die-cut openings, means for pressing the top panel onto theshoulders of the bottles and simultaneously folding downward the sidewall portions of the blank about the sides of the bottle group, and apressing element having upper and lower, elongated portions eachextending longitudinally of the carton side walls and movable toward theblank in a direction at right angles to the side walls for pressinginwardly lengthwise of the respective upper and lower narrow panels tobring them rmly against the bottle shoulders and rounded lower portions.

14. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end,wrap-around carton of the typecomprising a lat, rectangular blank havinga central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size toreceive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the topwall panel to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank beingscored along parallel lines to dene the top wall panel, side panels andbottom flaps and narrow connecting panels between the top and sides andbetween the sides and bottom aps, such narrow panels being adaptedrespectively to engage the sloping shoulder portions and rounded lowerportions of the bottles, such machine comprising, in combination, meansfor grouping bottles, means for assembling a wrapper blank of the typedescribed over a bottle group with the bottle necks projecting throughthe die-cut openings, means for pressing the top panel onto theshoulders of the bottles and simultaneously folding downward the sideWall portions of the blank about the sides of the bottle group, a thin,elongated, stationary plate for supporting the bottle group lengthwiseof the rows, an elongated pressing element extending longitudinally ofthe carton side walls and parallel with the stationary plate, a supportmember on which the pressing element is mounted, said support memberbeing movable in a lateral direction transverse to the length of thestationary plate to move the pressing element bodily transversely ofsuch plate and laterally toward the carton side walls to bear uniformlylengthwise along a narrow panel to press it directly against the bottleshoulders, and means operable while the pressing element is bearingagainst the narrow panel for folding one of the bottom llaps beneath thestationary plate.

15. A machine for packing two rows of bottles or similar articles withinan open-end, wrap-around carton of the type comprising a at, rectangularblank having a central top wall panel, such blank being scored alongparallel lines to deline the top wall, side panels and bottom flaps, thefree outer corners of each bottom flap being scored along diagonal linesextending across each corner, such lines at the corners of one bottom apeach terminating in a slit to provide, at each of such corners, upwardlyfoldable, dihedral angle portions, and a second upwardly foldableportion on each corner of the other bottom ap adapted to be joinedadhesively to the respective dihedral angle portions, such portionsforming, when joined as the carton is set up, upstanding retainingmembers diS- posed centrally of the ends of the bottom to preventoutward displacement of the end bottles, such machine comprising, incombination, conveying means for advancing a group of two rows ofbottles in upright position along a fixed path, means for retaining thegroup at an assembly point on said path, means for supporting a cartonblank of the type referred to in position over a bottle group, suchblank having had applied thereto a fresh coating of adhesive along theedge of a bottom ap, means for folding the side panels of the blank tolie along the sides of the bottle group, means for folding the ungluedbottom flap into supporting position beneath the row of bottles adjacentsuch flap, means acting in sequence for folding the adhesive coated apinto supporting position beneath the other row of bottles and in lappingrelation with the opposite bottom flap, and means for folding upwardlythe cooperating portions at the free corners of the bottom flaps,whereby said portions may be adhesively secured in permanentlyupstanding position.

16. A machine for packing two rows of bottles within an open-end,wrap-around carton of the type comprising a at, rectangular blank havinga central top wall panel formed with die-cut openings of a size toreceive the necks of the bottles to be enclosed and allowing the topwall panel to engage the sloping bottle shoulders, such blank beingscored along parallel lines to define the top wall panel, side panelsand bottom aps and narrow connecting panels between the top and sidesand between the sides and bottom ilaps, such narrow panels being adaptedrespectively to engage the sloping shoulder por- 23 tions and roundedlower portions of the bottles, such machine comprising, in combination,means for grouping bottles, means for assembling a wrapper blank of thetype described over a-bottle group with the bottle necks projectingthrough the die-cut openings, means for pressing the top panel onto theshoulders of the bottles and simultaneously folding downward the sideWall portions of the'KV blank about the sides of the bottle group, athin, elongateds'tationar'y plate' for supporting the bottle grouplengthwise of the rows, means movable toward the blank in a directiontransverse to the stationary plate for pressing inwardly lengthwiseagainst the upper narrow panel at one side of the plate tor bring suchnarrow panel rmly against the adjacent bottle shoulders, said panelpressing means including an elongated wiping element mounted on -apivotal aXis eXtending lengthwise of the stationary plate and adjacentthe rounded lowerY portions of the bottles, means for swingingV thewiping element downwardly toward the score line between the narrow paneland the attached bottom flap ofY thecarton blank to force the narrowpanel'progressively against the rounded bottle portions at the lowerends of the row of bottles, and means operable while the wiping elementis bearing against the lower narrow panel for folding a bottom apbeneath the stationary plate.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,276,129 wesselman Mar. 1o, 1942 2,351,596v Brogden June 2Q, 19442,751,730 Gentry June 26, 1956

